Youths set fire to metro train, station evacuated

The Brussels public transport company MIVB reports a serious incident of vandalism involving arson that took place on Saturday evening. At around 8pm a group of youths deliberately started a fire in a metro train that had stopped at the Kruidtuin Metro Station in Sint-Joost-ten-Node. The incident led to the evacuation of the station and the suspension of metro services through the station for around 40 minutes. The station re-opened at 8:42pm and services resumed. 

The MIVB’s spokeswoman Françoise Ledune told the Brussels regional news platform Bruzz that no one was injured in the incident.

Initial findings of the investigation point to the youths having used a lighter and some petrol to start the fire. A carriage window exploded and the plastic and rubber around it melted produce a large amount of smoke.  The damaged metro train was towed away to the depot.   

MIVB intends to try and get the culprits prosecuted. The incident has already been reported to the police and they will examine images from security cameras that are in place on the platforms of Kruidtuin Metro Station.

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